ballp.it
Snakes In The Ball Pit => Yay, I get to talk about me! => Topic started by: squiddy on April 04, 2013, 09:53:31 pm
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What kind of lady things do you like, ladyfriends? Shoes, perfume, frivolous undies, home ec, jogging, eating ice cream? This is the lady place for lady chats.
Because winter lasted forever here I decided that at the first hint of spring I'd get myself some peep-toe wedges and a pedicure. I found a nice pair of Aerosoles, which is like my fav shoe brand for heels, in nude, which is like the best color for looking taller (or so the clips say) for $30. I have yet to get the pedicure. We live near an Aveda institute so hopefully I'll have one by the end of summer.
Mah shoes:
(http://i.imgur.com/R57mSqW.jpg)
I've also recently discovered this (http://www.6pm.com/) website for shoes, bags, what have you. [insert 45 minutes of looking at sunglasses before posting thread]
Also, periods suck, amirite, ladies? (I mentioned them mostly to keep the boys out, but feel free to share if necessary.)
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Oh man, yes. I'm excited for this thread. I was a tomboy for a really long time and I'm just growing out of that, but I have a pair of Triumph 1914 (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsbik4mTCJ1qjvuhqo1_500.png)s by Doc Marten which are just the most gorgeous boots I've ever owned, and I love them so. That picture doesn't really do them justice, the pattern on the inside is really vibrant and they're as soft as butter to wear.
I sew (mostly dresses, but some other things as well), though I'm not quite good enough to be willing to post pictures on the internet. I also quite like baking bread, and have a sourdough starter that's nearly a year old now (and quite delicious when made with rye).
I'm also really into watching youtube videos and crying, and sometimes I'll eat ice cream or chocolate while I do it, so I guess that counts too?
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I hate shoes. I can never find ones that fit and look nice, since I have massive Sasquatch feet.
Let's see, ladythings ladythings...Well, I quite love earrings, the bigger the better, and have a massive collection of all sorts of wacky ear-wear. However, my big Lady vanity-point is actually my nails. I've done manicures that have took me hours to get just right. I also have an unhealthy obsession with night-dresses and robes and am always looking out for new pretty ones.
And periods totes suck.
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Nice Docs, kal-elk. Do you wear the ribbon laces? Coincidentally I happened to be wearing my Docs today too, they look like these (http://compare.ebay.com/like/300869933766?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar). My 16 year old self would very much approve. I sew too! I haven't recently because our basement has a little radon problem and that's where my machine is but to get back in the swing of it I made a bunch of cloth napkins and potholders for xmas gifts. I wanted to make myself some skirts but between the basement poison and my baby I haven't had a chance.
Montrith, I'd absolutely love to see a picture of a manicure you're particularly proud of.
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I don't have any pics right now, but I'll be sure to take a pic the next time I make something more elaborate.
Not shoes, but here's some pics of earrings I just bought. They're really big and cool, I just need to change the hooks since they're trash metal.
These I have in black and silver.
http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Silver-Butterfly-Dangle-Earrings/dp/B008X8YRA0/ref=pd_sbs_jw_1
And these I have in dark red.
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Butterfly-Earrings-Red/dp/B00BCR2H8S/ref=sr_1_71?s=jewelry&ie=UTF8&qid=1365183225&sr=1-71&keywords=red+butterfly
I know what you're thinking, but I make big earrings look good, baby.
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Nice Docs, kal-elk. Do you wear the ribbon laces? Coincidentally I happened to be wearing my Docs today too, they look like these (http://compare.ebay.com/like/300869933766?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar). My 16 year old self would very much approve. I sew too! I haven't recently because our basement has a little radon problem and that's where my machine is but to get back in the swing of it I made a bunch of cloth napkins and potholders for xmas gifts. I wanted to make myself some skirts but between the basement poison and my baby I haven't had a chance.
Montrith, I'd absolutely love to see a picture of a manicure you're particularly proud of.
squiddy, April 05, 2013, 11:00:14 am
I do wear the ribbon laces, yeah! Also those look pretty rad.
And I mean, it's not like it's combat-boots-o'clock for me all day every day, I just particularly like those. And hey, if you've got a baby the fact that you manage to find the time to go outside is commendable. Those things take up a lot of time, I hear!
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Love the earrings. They're so cheap! That's really fun! My neck is ungazelle-like, to be kind, so long earrings look weird on me.
Springtime makes me want to shop, shop, shop. Like, what the hell did I wear all last summer? How come it seem like I only own sweaters? Also, need to be less fat. It's been the longest winter and it's so awesome to get to run again, with and without stroller. Luckily my baby loves to zone out in the stroller so we can go out for a long time.
ETA: I went to Target and got this skirt (http://www.target.com/p/prabal-gurung-for-target-skirt-in-meet-the-parents-print/-/A-14330902#prodSlot=medium_1_13) marked down to $9. It has POCKETS! I love it so much I was hugging it on the way out of the fitting room.
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American Apparel just had a really great sale, I picked up like...9 things for only $85. They also accidentally threw in a nice velour jacket that is apparently $48 on the site. Their mistake, my selfish benefit.
Anyone wanna talk perfume? I've mostly stuck with the cheaper stuff, but I finally went out on a limb and bought two fragrances within the past month, Balenciaga Florabotanica and Miss Dior. Florabotanica was a bit of a disappointment, I'd smelled it before but never realized how soapy it was until I put it on. It really, really smells like a sort of green-floral and amber soap with some floral notes to it. Miss Dior is much more my style, sweet without being cloying. very floral, jasmine, sweet citrusy, tiny bit of incense-y spiciness. I love love love it. And to think I only bought it to get VIB status on Sephora (hehe).
Speaking of Sephora: make-up! I've become addicted to NARS blushes. I only have three so far (Orgasm, Sex Appeal, Amour... god the names are so dumb) and I already want MOOORE. I finally broke down and bought one of the Naked palettes (#2) from Urban Decay, after realizing bright colors + fluorescent lights at work are a bad combination. Sadly my work also means that wearing nail polish is a terrible idea, since all the topcoat in the world doesn't stop the chipping, but that doesn't keep me from trying anyway.
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I have a really sensitive nose, so I don't usually wear much perfume. I actually prefer to use light body sprays in slightly sweet/flowery scents, as I've learned the hard way that sour or citrus-y smells do NOT compliment my natural body odor. The one actual perfume I sometimes use for fancy occasions is Gucci by Gucci (yes, I think it's lame too), but otherwise I usually just use a light strawberry or vanilla/orange blossom body spray. Other scents I like are sweet cherry, morocco rose and lotus flower.
I don't actually wear much make-up on regular days, seeing as I currently work in a manual labor job where everyone is pretty much constantly splashing with water. I wish I had more occasions to "do my face", since I quite like playing with different colors and brushes, but there just isn't much point when your routine consists of work/store/home. I suppose I could make myself pretty and head out to the local bar, but I think I'd just stand out from the crowd of resident alcoholic geezers even more if I made any effort to improve my appearance. Heck, even wearing a clean shirt could be considered lah-di-dah in that company.
Lets talk about colors. Do you find yourself gravitating towards a certain palette? I almost always use cold blues, purples and reds. I almost never wear orange, brown or yellow, and green only in the few shades I like. I also have tons and tons of black clothes left-over from my teens, when I was too boring to wear anything else. Pretty much the same goes for my make-up and accessories, although I do try to spice it up a bit with sometimes adding metallic colors and patterns in colors I don't normally use.
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Anyone wanna talk perfume? I've mostly stuck with the cheaper stuff, but I finally went out on a limb and bought two fragrances within the past month, Balenciaga Florabotanica and Miss Dior. Florabotanica was a bit of a disappointment, I'd smelled it before but never realized how soapy it was until I put it on. It really, really smells like a sort of green-floral and amber soap with some floral notes to it. Miss Dior is much more my style, sweet without being cloying. very floral, jasmine, sweet citrusy, tiny bit of incense-y spiciness. I love love love it. And to think I only bought it to get VIB status on Sephora (hehe).
Dacey Mormont, April 08, 2013, 01:30:02 am
I love Miss Dior! (I'll admit that part of my love of it has to do with the Natalie Portman ads. She's so beeeoootiful.) I bought it but it just didn't work with my chemistry. So I returned it to Sephora and got Stella McCartney Nude instead, which is my fav. I also have Tocca's Stella (dunno why my 2 fancy perfumes are both Stellas) which I love too. I'm terrible at describing perfumes- but DID YOU KNOW that if you go to Sephora and ask they will give you a spritzable sample of any of their perfumes! They decant from the open bottles on the shelf. It's a great way to try a perfume for a few days to see if it works for you.
I also have a lifelong obsession with Lush (https://www.lush.co.uk/), and I linked the UK site because it's actually cheaper to order from them, even in the US. I have several of their limited edition perfumes, like Snowcake and Olive Branch. I also love me some bath bombs and bubble bars.
I haven't been wearing much perfume lately because I don't want to overwhelm my baby. I miss it, so I was inspired to spritz just a teeny bit into the layers of my skirt today.
Lets talk about colors. Do you find yourself gravitating towards a certain palette? I almost always use cold blues, purples and reds. I almost never wear orange, brown or yellow, and green only in the few shades I like. I also have tons and tons of black clothes left-over from my teens, when I was too boring to wear anything else. Pretty much the same goes for my make-up and accessories, although I do try to spice it up a bit with sometimes adding metallic colors and patterns in colors I don't normally use.montrith
I don't wear a lot of makeup because I just never got the hang of it, but I still love it. And I always buy the same colors. I have a bunch of purple-y eyeshadow, and probably 5 wine lipsticks. I never wear foundation, thought I'm hearing about BB and CC creams and everyone raving about them. I suspect that it's just the beauty industry trying to trick me once again into buying foundation, like they did with "tinted moisturizer." I just can't get the hang of it.
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Lush is so great! I'm obsessed with Lemony Flutter cuticle cream. My workplace is very dry, and I've never had dry skin or hair so I've had to adjust to regularly moisturizing, using deep conditioners etc. And discovering the glory of Lemony Flutter has totally been the upside to that. Good tip on the UK site thing -- I had no idea (I usually buy from the mall).
I had no idea about the Sephora perfume thing either! I have tons of tiny samples from ordering off their website, and a sample size of Gucci Guilty that I got for rewards points (which I really like, but its SO strong and not the kind of thing I can wear daily), but I've never thought about getting samples in-store.
btw, about BB Creams: if you buy them, go for the Korean stuff online. I was skeptical when people said they're better than the Western stuff because it sounded like hype, but they really are different from the repackaged tinted moisturizers you get at drugstores. They go on grayish-taupe but blend in with your skintone and have a nice sheer but noticable coverage. You can apply with your fingers and it looks fine, and it's really lightweight, and it makes a great primer for blush. I bought a big tube of the Skin79 stuff for like... $15 I think? With shipping. So not a bad deal at all.
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Lush is so great! I'm obsessed with Lemony Flutter cuticle cream. My workplace is very dry, and I've never had dry skin or hair so I've had to adjust to regularly moisturizing, using deep conditioners etc. And discovering the glory of Lemony Flutter has totally been the upside to that. Good tip on the UK site thing -- I had no idea (I usually buy from the mall).
Dacey Mormont, April 09, 2013, 05:37:42 pm
It is sooooo much cheaper! Lemony Flutter is 5.21 pounds after the VAT tax is removed, which is $7.99 US. Compare that to the Lush USA website, it's $16.95. Shipping from the UK is about $10, and you might be charged a small fee by your bank or credit card, but all it takes is ordering 2 Lemony Flutter to save money. It's nuts. A Sex Bomb bath bomb is $6.65 in the US, it's $4.09 from the UK. Most things are cheaper, there have been only one or two things I've found that are about the same price.
btw, about BB Creams: if you buy them, go for the Korean stuff online. I was skeptical when people said they're better than the Western stuff because it sounded like hype, but they really are different from the repackaged tinted moisturizers you get at drugstores. They go on grayish-taupe but blend in with your skintone and have a nice sheer but noticable coverage. You can apply with your fingers and it looks fine, and it's really lightweight, and it makes a great primer for blush. I bought a big tube of the Skin79 stuff for like... $15 I think? With shipping. So not a bad deal at all.
I am just so skeptical, but $15 is not to bad to try. Maybe I'll give it a whirl. Thanks!
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Just want to brag about the totally gorgeous Michael Kors bag I got for $60 the other day.
It looks like this one:
(http://hnvco.com/xfashioneer/Handbag/2012/November/17/IMG_0287.JPG)
And it has a long strap to make it a cross-body as well as the shorter strap. It is lovely, soft leather and it makes me a more interesting person, I think. If you're ever Minneapolis way you must go to Opitz for ridiculously cheap high end stuff. I got a pair of Fendi sneakers there once for $5. I still wear them: they're purple.
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I love bags, but could never bring myself to spend 60 bux on one. I get mine mostly second-hand. It's amazing what you can find in Internet auctions and thrift stores. I have a secret soft spot for ridiculously unpractical evening purses, and actually have more than I'll probably ever use.
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Five dollar fendi sneakers, hot dang. Also that bag is gorgeous!
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Okay ladies, here's the dealio. I'm trying to find a dress for my cousins wedding, but to my disappointment I've noticed that every single shop offering "wedding clothes" only offers dresses that are really light on the top, namely halterneck or strapless dresses. Now, this is a bit of a problem for someone like me, who is incredibly top heavy and cannot possibly wear a dress without and industrial strength bra underneath it to keep "the ladies" in order. However, I don't really want to order anything from the Mother of the Bride section, since I'm about 20 years too young for that. Does any of you know a shop or a design (type of dress) that I could help me with my problem? I'm sick of looking at clothes that I can only wear if I intend to flash the entire wedding crowd.
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Okay ladies, here's the dealio. I'm trying to find a dress for my cousins wedding, but to my disappointment I've noticed that every single shop offering "wedding clothes" only offers dresses that are really light on the top, namely halterneck or strapless dresses. Now, this is a bit of a problem for someone like me, who is incredibly top heavy and cannot possibly wear a dress without and industrial strength bra underneath it to keep "the ladies" in order. However, I don't really want to order anything from the Mother of the Bride section, since I'm about 20 years too young for that. Does any of you know a shop or a design (type of dress) that I could help me with my problem? I'm sick of looking at clothes that I can only wear if I intend to flash the entire wedding crowd.
montrith, May 25, 2013, 08:48:01 am
Depending on what size you wear and the relative fanciness of the event, you could try Igigi (http://www.igigi.com), if you're of a larger size, or Shabby Apple (http://www.shabbyapple.com) if you're not.
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So, how do you figure out what perfumes go with your body chemistry anyway? Is it all trial and error or are there ways to make educated guesses? Also, how much perfume should a person apply and where? I love perfume, but I'm always afraid that I'll wear too much and be that perfume death cloud person.
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Thanks for the links, I'll check those out. I usually buy "Tall", since normal sizes don't really work for me that well. I've bought more than one dress where the supposed waist was actually barely bellow my breasts. Think of those Amazon women in that one Futurama episode.
So, how do you figure out what perfumes go with your body chemistry anyway? Is it all trial and error or are there ways to make educated guesses? Also, how much perfume should a person apply and where? I love perfume, but I'm always afraid that I'll wear too much and be that perfume death cloud person.
NutshellGulag, May 25, 2013, 01:13:25 pm
For me personally, I can usually hazard a guess whether or not a certain scent suits me based on what I already know about my body. If one citrus-y scent doesn't work, then it's unlikely other sour scents will be that good either. I know Aloe Vera is horrible for me, so I avoid other "fresh" and "leafy" scents as well. Remember to also pay attention to the undertone of the scent. While the first thing you smell may seem pleasant, some scents surprise you with a completely inappropriate undertone, which will then linger on your skin. Once you've found one or two scents that really work or don't work for you, it will be a lot easier to compare other scents to those and make educated guesses.
I also try to match my colors with my scent. For summer, when I have lighter hair and wear thinner clothes, I prefer soft flower scents and delicate, sweet and fruity scents. When winter comes, I switch to heavier, slightly spicy and warm scents, like rose with a touch of cinnamon.
Here is one of my summer perfumes.
Eau de Parfum - MING SHU
The most intense interpretation of Ming Shu
A breath of air, fresh with aquatic and floral notes... the essence of a water flower (Nymphea Stellata) that releases its most intense notes at dawn. The Ming Shu eau de parfum flower of the dawn, wraps you in harmony.
Olfactive Family : Aquatic Floral.
Head Notes : Marine Note, Pepper.
Mid Notes : Nymphea Stellata, Ylang-Ylang.
Base Notes : Sandalwood, Vanilla.
And here is a winter/evening perfume
Gucci perfume by Gucci starts loud, but it calms nicely. It is strong as well as fruity fragrance whose top is loaded with patchouli. Gucci Parfum was developed by the perfumer Ermenidis and this fragrance constitutes notes of guava, raspberry, pear, chamomile, Tahitian Tiare flower, orange blossom, spider lily, patchouli, honey and musk.Gucci fragrance is considered as a musky skin perfume with woody and earthy undertones, with smooth and dry base. Gucci by Gucci is the main fragrance for women by this company. Gucci is a sophisticated, sweet, soft, strong and impressive fragrance. It is warm and really a great example of a modern chypre without oak moss.
As for wearing perfume, I usually dab just a bit behind the ears, on my collarbone, in my armpits and behind my ankles. Some say you should apply between your legs, but I've never really gone further than sometimes dabbing just a little on my thighs. If it's a scent in a spray bottle, then a good way to apply the right amount is to spray some in the air and walk through it. If you don't think that's enough, repeat.
TL;DR, I care too much about how I smell.
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Thank you! I will try your perfume advice.
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If you have some disposable income, you could try a couple of imps ears (sample sizes) from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. They've got a broad selection, so getting a batch of six samples could give you an idea of how different scents interact with your body chemistry.
Body chemistry is weird. I've had stuff that is supposed to smell like tobacco and dirt turn out like sugar cookies on me. For what that's worth, your base chemistry is likely to enhance some scents and totally screw with others.
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I've seen BPAL's website; it reminds me of ZOMG Smells only less nerdy and more gothy. I bought a small spray of Cinnamon Roll from Demeter Fragrance Library, and liked it a lot.
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Go to Sephora near you, tell the nice, pretty lady (or gay guy) who works there that you are a perfume noob and they'll ask you what you like and give you a couple samples.
BPAL is pretty rad, I've never ordered but I've sniffed plenty. My issue with fragrance oils is the base sometimes doesn't mix with my chemistry and it smells too-sweet.
WRT dresses, I have the same problem with my tig ol bitties and was scared to even go wedding dress shopping when I got married a couple years ago. But the fancy-dress section at a regular old department store had plenty of dresses with wide straps. I know you're not in the US, montrith, but you have the equivalent of a Macy's or Nordstroms right?
Latest fashion conquest, I got one of these Missoni for Target guys on Ebay for less than $20. It fits perfectly and is so adorable. I'm sort of obsessed with the Missoni for Target line from a couple years back.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HUeOLQiVL._SS400_.jpg)
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We have those kind of stores in the cities, but none near me, which is why I usually shop online. I guess I'll have to schedule a trip to the nearest city and actually go shopping. That means I have to arrange for a day off, drat.
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What's this? Oh, just they Frye boots I got at a thrift store for $9 today!
(http://f1614.mail.vip.bf1.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f805265%5fAPXTi2IAAXl1UaNzzAUedHRGD5I&pid=2&fid=Inbox&inline=1)
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I can't view the image without a Yahoo! account, but I'm already jealous.
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Okay ladies, I've been thinking. Black dress for summer wedding, too much? I have this cute little kneelenght Grecian style wrap dress, which I wasn't even considering at first since, you know, black at summer wedding. But I just recently bought a lovely grey/silver scarf/wrap and that gave me the idea that maybe it would be okay if I went with light colors and materials for the accessories.
I've already got these shoes in silver.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lotus-Womens-Harper-Slingbacks-50136/dp/B0060U9L5Y/ref=sr_1_98?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1369670247&sr=1-98
And this is the wrap I was talking about.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prettystern-200cm-Cashmere-Pashmina-Fiber/dp/B00BTAFWRG/ref=sr_1_51?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1369670331&sr=1-51&keywords=Prettystern
Oh, look. I even found the dress I have!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Grecian-silver-Buckle-length/dp/B005017ND6/ref=pd_sim_ap_3
Do you think it would work? I don't really have that much experience in dressing formal, since the only place I really dress myself up is the opera. I'm going to need a wrap anyways, if for nothing else to protect me from mosquitoes.
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I can't view the image without a Yahoo! account, but I'm already jealous.
kal-elk, May 27, 2013, 10:57:18 am
Oh, I was wondering if that would happen. They're like these (http://www.thefryecompany.com/womens-boots/view-all/77053/campus-14l), except the leather is a little cracked around the toes- nothing a little leather lotion can't fix. And they'll most def need to be resoled sooner rather than later, but they are so gorgeous. I really can't believe it- I was at the same thrift store 2 days ago and they didn't have them then. They must have gone out today or yesterday, just in time for the 50% off Memorial Day sale.
montrith, love the dress. With a light pashmina I don't see why not, plus etiquette has changed enough that black at a wedding is no longer poor form, and I'm pretty sure I wore a black dress with flowers on it to my friend's wedding a couple summers ago. (In fact it came up that people were asking her if it was ok to wear black to her wedding and I threatened to wear my own wedding dress just to be gauche.)
I also got a really cool Italian leather purse for $5 at the thrift store, with some of the coolest hardware I've ever seen. Lemon has started to look at me like he's concerned for my mental health when I bring home another new bag though- I think I need to chill out on the handbags.
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I can't view the image without a Yahoo! account, but I'm already jealous.
kal-elk, May 27, 2013, 10:57:18 am
Oh, I was wondering if that would happen. They're like these (http://www.thefryecompany.com/womens-boots/view-all/77053/campus-14l), except the leather is a little cracked around the toes- nothing a little leather lotion can't fix. And they'll most def need to be resoled sooner rather than later, but they are so gorgeous. I really can't believe it- I was at the same thrift store 2 days ago and they didn't have them then. They must have gone out today or yesterday, just in time for the 50% off Memorial Day sale.
montrith, love the dress. With a light pashmina I don't see why not, plus etiquette has changed enough that black at a wedding is no longer poor form, and I'm pretty sure I wore a black dress with flowers on it to my friend's wedding a couple summers ago. (In fact it came up that people were asking her if it was ok to wear black to her wedding and I threatened to wear my own wedding dress just to be gauche.)
I also got a really cool Italian leather purse for $5 at the thrift store, with some of the coolest hardware I've ever seen. Lemon has started to look at me like he's concerned for my mental health when I bring home another new bag though- I think I need to chill out on the handbags.
squiddy, May 27, 2013, 11:10:19 am
He's worried you'll hide his XBox inside one.
Also I really love the mental image of just showing up to a wedding in your own wedding dress, that sounds like the most beautifully passive-agressive thing ever.
(ps: nice find on the boots!)
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Those are some kickass boots Squiddy! I'm super jealous, since I can't really wear boots. My feet are kinda big and my calves are the most muscular part of my body (loot of standing work and cleaning low surfaces will do that to you).
Let's talk about purses, shall we? I love purses and handbags. I'd buy so many if I only had little more money. Sometimes I go to the shops and just look at the purses and weep because I don't have an excuse to buy a new one. The thing is, my current go-to purse is a lovely black-with-white-trimmings Bozzini, which is just so damn durable I don't have any excuse to buy a new one. It's just the right size, and even though I bought it used years ago it still shows no major signs of wear. It may not be the fanciest purse ever made, but golly I've really gotten my 5 € worth on that one.
Also you should totally hide Lemon's XBox inside your purse. And then make him a sandwich with meat and cheese.
Does anyone else here love gloves? I have a major glove fetish and I have to even confess to owning several pairs of fingerless gloves. But if I didn't have those then all that time I spent on my manicure would go to waste!
*This has been the girliest you will ever see me. We will now go back to your scheduled nerdery and "look what horrible thing montrith found today".
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Okay, so I'm going out on an enormous limb here, but are any of you interested in having a workout buddy? I got booted from the family trip to Peru for being entirely too out-of-shape, which stings, and I need to get re-motivated and take advantage of the summer months to get to the point where I can run a mile and not puke. Also to get down a couple of cup sizes because owwww my back. :(
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Your family won't let you go on the family vacation because you're out of shape? Whoa, harsh.
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Okay, so I'm going out on an enormous limb here, but are any of you interested in having a workout buddy? I got booted from the family trip to Peru for being entirely too out-of-shape, which stings, and I need to get re-motivated and take advantage of the summer months to get to the point where I can run a mile and not puke. Also to get down a couple of cup sizes because owwww my back. :(
Cuddlesquid, May 27, 2013, 02:33:54 pm
Oh, me me! I'm actually already doing an exercise program of sorts, seeing as I want my dress to fit well at my cousins wedding. I've been going on about 1h walks for every day, but I could really use some motivation when it comes to working with my upper-body. I'm trying to find something to tone my arms and, if at all possible, get a down a cup size, seeing as I too am battling the back-pain monster daily.
I'm not sure how much of a buddy I can be all the way here in Finland, but at least I can give you moral support.
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Your family won't let you go on the family vacation because you're out of shape? Whoa, harsh.
sherlockian, May 27, 2013, 02:35:30 pm
They're hiking Macchu Picchu. I am a size 22.
It stings pretty goddamn bad, but, well, depression-related food/activity level issues have taken a toll on me and I can't pretend I'm perfectly suited to go high-altitude hiking.
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I wholeheartedly endorse sparkpeople.com to help track what you eat to help lose weight. It was a huge wake-up call for me to know just how much I was eating and I lost a significant amount of weight and have kept it off for 5 years tracking what I eat every day. You can do it, and feel free to PM me if you need to talk about it, because ladyfriend I feel ya.
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Also, a lot of people eat way more animal products than they really need to. I hate to turn veg*nism into a weight-loss fix, but if you're more careful about where your food calories are coming from, it can definitely help with that type of thing. I offer this as a counterpoint to journaling/calorie-counting, since those don't work for everyone (particuarly folks with anxiety disorders / histories of disordered eating, but there are other people for whom it's difficult too).
The fact remains that the western-pattern diet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_pattern_diet) isn't good for people who eat it. Whether you modifies your diet or just try to be more conscious/mindful (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/dining/mindful-eating-as-food-for-thought.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0) while you eat (and of what you eat)--this is a goal of journaling/counting, too--it should help you get in shape.
As an aside, running isn't always the best way to do things! I've found a lot of joy in Starting Strength (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3522349) (though I must admit I've only been doing it a little while, and I'm still rather weak!), whereas running always made me feel awful. If you like the cardio, swimming is a good option too!
Getting in better health is a great thing, whenever you decide to start doing it. I've still got a little pudge around the hips but I feel a lot better than I used to, both when I was thinner and heavier. Not everyone's body is going to settle into 'model', but it's pretty possible to end up at 'hot damn i look good'.
e: if this is too forward, I apologize! I'm not trying to be a tumblr-vegan, I just really do think that lots of people eat way too many animal products.
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Note: The following opinions are long, rambling and boring. Skip this if you value your time at all.
I have to agree with moose here. Getting rid off at least some animal fat in your diet can work wonders. I probably couldn't go all vegan (I like steak way too much), but decreasing the amount of meat and fat I eat definitely helped my with my weight-loss and digestive problems. I rarely eat pork these days, since it's the fattiest of meats and also kind of bland if you don't drown it in grease. I also replaced carbs in my meals with veggies, which also helped. Instead of potatoes or pasta, I'd have a nice steak with green salad and some grilled zucchini (note, don't go full carb free, you still need those in moderation).
You might want to look into food cultures that use a lot of vegetables and fish in their cooking. Mediterranean cuisine is one of my favorites, as pretty much anything will taste good with just a touch of olive oil, basil, oregano and some tomatoes. Asians foods can also be really good, if you go with real Asian instead of the fatty, westernized versions of those foods. Soups are also really good, if you know how to make those.
On the topic of soda, I think people in general consume way too much sugary drinks. Just by asking for water with your fast food meal you can drop about 200 to 300 calories from the total of that meal. I confess I'm not so saintly that I never drink a Coke, but seeing my little sister's boyfriend consume 2 liters of the stuff per day makes me slightly sick.
PS: This wasn't directed at you specifically, Cuddles. I just felt like rambling.
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I too am attempting to firm up/shrink down a bit for a wedding. I will look for stuff that works.
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The best way to lose weight is really to watch your food intake and what you eat, and we all know that, it's the way of going about it that's not taught. I really want to reiterate that Sparkpeople (http://www.sparkpeople.com/) changed my life so incredibly much. Tracking what you eat is such an wake-up call. I thought I was eating healthy- brown rice, veggies, lean meats, yogurt, etc, but I was eating enormous amounts. A serving of pasta is a cup- and when you measure that out you can't help but go Oh holy fuck no wonder I'm fat. But a cup of pasta and a cup of steamed veggies and some tomato sauce and a sprinkling of parmesan is a 500 calorie dinner that is perfectly filling, rather than 2.5 cups of pasta, meat sauce and a smothering of parmesan, which is like 1000 calories and uncomfortably filling. It is hard at first, but there are so many little tricks to eat less and still be happy. And the sort of cool thing is when you're overweight you start at like 1800 calories a day, which is not too few, really. Add 3 60 minute walks a day, listening to a podcast, and you're exercising.
Changing my eating and walking 3-5 times a week and I lost 15 pounds in 6 weeks when I first started losing weight. You can do it! We all can do it. Hell, I need to lose the last 5 pounds of baby weight and I'd like to lose another 10 on top of that. I just eat too much ice cream. But let's not hijack the lady thread any longer. I'm going to start a weight loss support thread in the paid member forum.
http://ballp.it/index.php?topic=559.new#new
Join me in my Lets Be Less Fat thread, and go back to frivolity over here.
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Ladies, you're all awesome. [heart] [heart] [heart]
Back to ladytalk, I really need to get a cheap sewing machine and practice my limited tailoring skills. Darts are everyone's friend!
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Ladies, you're all awesome. [heart] [heart] [heart]
Back to ladytalk, I really need to get a cheap sewing machine and practice my limited tailoring skills. Darts are everyone's friend!
Cuddlesquid, May 28, 2013, 11:08:21 am
Check craigslist (also check the actual models against patternreviews.com, they have extensive reviews of every sewing machine ever made) and you'll be amazed what kind of quality you can get for how little. My personal advice would be to get a Brother of some kind, they're pretty great.
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Ok, I got some samples from a few perfume places, and am going to try them. WISH ME LUCK.
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So, I'm going to an ex's wedding this weekend. Excuse to go dress shopping, y/y?
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So, I'm going to an ex's wedding this weekend. Excuse to go dress shopping, y/y?
kal-elk, June 10, 2013, 09:29:24 am
Y
I went shopping with some girl friends this weekend and couldn't resist myself. I really don't need another perfume, but I fell in love with this and had to get it.
(http://www.musingsofamuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Escada-Cherry-In-The-Air-Eau-de-Toilette-Spray.jpg)
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What does it smell like? I know, I know, cherries, but I'm assuming more complex and nicer than "hey, cough syrup!"
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The first scent is strong, fruity and fresh, maybe even a bit overpowering, but the second scent mellows a bit and settles into a lovely, woodsy and sweet scent that has a summer evening like feel to it. I like it because it has some citrus-y tones (which I love but cannot really use on their own) and a touch of sandalwood, which balances out the sweetness. I'd say it's a more mature take on a fruit body spray, such as you might buy from Body Shop etc.
This something I just found out: If you keep some strong smelling tea leaves with your clothes it will make them smell really nice. I bought a packet of green tea with ginger in it (I'm trying to learn how to drink green tea) and put it in a bag with my bra. Now I want to ask people to sniff my bra.
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Now I want to ask people to sniff my bra.
montrith, June 10, 2013, 01:01:38 pm
(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m11ijhXgTw1r2rk5e.gif)
(j/k although i'm sure you can dig up a doc's worth of bra-sniffing enthusiasts)
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Montrith, I really like the idea of putting tea with clothes. I'll definitely try it and report back!
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Oh god. I got an email that a local tv station is coming in tomorrow to do a piece on the bakery I'm doing my schooling thingy at and I'm terrified. Should I wear full-length pants or am I okay with capris? Should I make an attempt at makeup?
(I say this knowing full well the two dudes I work with are going to wear their ripped t-shirts and one of them will turn up with unmaintained neckbeard. Must be awesome to be a guy.)
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Oh god. I got an email that a local tv station is coming in tomorrow to do a piece on the bakery I'm doing my schooling thingy at and I'm terrified. Should I wear full-length pants or am I okay with capris? Should I make an attempt at makeup?
(I say this knowing full well the two dudes I work with are going to wear their ripped t-shirts and one of them will turn up with unmaintained neckbeard. Must be awesome to be a guy.)
Cuddlesquid, June 11, 2013, 09:26:49 pm
I do radio and print stuff, so it's not quite the same, but I'd recommend wearing nicer-end of what you'd typically wear; don't frock up or anything if that's not work-standard, but likewise make sure you took a shower that day.
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Showered, wore a very nice shirt and freshly laundered apron, even put on some tinted lipgloss.
Neckbeard rolled in with a Family Guy t-shirt and the same scraggly gross facial hair he had yesterday.
If I were on tumblr I'd probably make a fuss about this being male privilege but the truth is I need to have a lie down and an enormous cup of tea before I'm refreshed enough to give half a shit about anything.
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I got perfume samples in the mail today! I'm gonna smell one and report on it! Hopefully I won't spill it all over myself; those caps on the little sample tubes can be a bitch to pry off.
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Ok, I am trying "Camping in a Vanilla Forest" by ZOMG Smells. After all the fancy talk, it says that the smells contained therein are:
"Young amber, smoky vanilla, earthy patchouli and a hint of vetiver-green shadows in the underbrush."
In the bottle: I definitely smell the patchouli, and some sort of other sweet smell, but it isn't super vanilla-y.
On my wrist: Still mostly patchouli, but with a smoky undertone and more sweet behind it. I want more vanilla. :/
2 minutes out: Getting a little bit more vanilla, sort of marshmallowy, lots of patchouli, and that bit of smoke again. Luckily I like patchouli, but I think it should have been called "Toasting Marshmallows in a Patchouli Forest."
10 minutes out: Either the patchouli has calmed down or my nose is trying to tune it out now; the vanilla's gotten stronger, almost like a cream soda. I like it. It's definitely a warm smell, but not as sugary as I was expecting.
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Sounds lovely, though I'm not big on patchouli myself. You should get an outsiders opinion too, just to see what their initial reaction to the scent is. Of course, if their reaction is stupid, just feel free to ignore it. You know what goes with your body best.
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That sounds really nice to me. I don't mind a little patchouli. Where did you get perfume samples from?
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Just ZOMG Smells this time.
http://www.zomgsmellsshop.com/ (http://www.zomgsmellsshop.com/)
I got Candied Head, which is going to be very patchouli-y too, Baby Unicorn Birthday Party, Spiced Hypatia, Earth and Heaven, Flower Sandwich, Elder Spicecake, Camping in a Vanilla Forest, Snail Fur, Wait Until Evening, and Haydee. I'm trying one a day to avoid overloading my nose and the noses of others.
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That looks so fun. I'm almost glad I'm not in the market for scents because I could go bananas.
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Yeah, not sure how often I'll wear it even if I find one that I really like. Montrith, I'll think of you when I'm chasing my friends around screaming "SMELL MEEEEEEEE."
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I'm super excited to try this cool Japanese facial product my friend gave me. I felt extra special because she can't even get them here and has her parents bring them when they come from Japan.
Plus, the brand is called Gatsby, which tickles me for some reason. They're like peppermints for the face.
http://www.gatsby.sg/product_cat_fc_facial_paper_super_refresh.php
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Ok, today I'm trying Snail Fur: " Four of our favorite musks combine with ambergris and dainty clove bud to make a deliciously subtle, pettable fragrance." So here goes.
In bottle: Getting the musks and clove, but it's an airy sort of smell. Not really deep or dark.
On wrist: Still pretty light, although more clove-y now. I honestly have no idea what ambergris smells like once it's been processed from whale barf, but this smells nice. Definitely more subtle than yesterday's patchouli hammer.
Two minutes out: The clove's faded already, which is a bummer. It's a soft, light smell, pretty and feminine but not very interesting to me.
10 minutes out: It smells like a pleasant, inoffensive perfume, kind of like walking into a perfume shop. It's nice enough, but I was hoping for something more spicy and wow. I guess subtlety is lost on me.
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I've been looking at that site and they're hitting just the right spot in my "buy only stuff with interesting names" compartment. I know it's stupid, but I really want to try some of these just based on names. I don't really need perfumes though, so somebody give me an excuse to order some samples.
This has sandalwood, which I love, so I really want to try it.
http://www.zomgsmellsshop.com/the-melancholy-death-of-nikola-tesla/
These sound nice too.
http://www.zomgsmellsshop.com/siamese-squid-nebula-1/
http://www.zomgsmellsshop.com/sugar-dragon-1/
Oh, look! It's the fake Finnish saint!
http://www.zomgsmellsshop.com/the-trials-of-st-urho-1/
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Yeah, Sugar Dragon sounded neat, but I'm afraid I've repeated a few scents too much as it is. Oh well.
I'm going to double up on the testing today because tomorrow I'm doing things with a relative who is really sensitive to perfume, so I want to avoid wearing any around her. And yes, I'm going to post about every single one here because most of my friends are guys who could care less. :/
SO, the one I'm trying here is Earth and Heaven.
"Heavenly frankincense and rich dark chocolate all mulched together with wet earth, a touch of patchouli, and the sweetest, gentlest clove in the world." Oh look, clove and patchouli. PATTERN MUCH? :V
In the bottle: Wow! I can really smell the chocolate, with frankincense backing it up. It's bitter chocolate, strong and not very sweet. Definitely interesting, but not sure how it's going to smell on me.
On wrist: The patchouli and clove are coming out more, but the chocolate is pretty wild still, and kind of clashes with the other smells.
10 minutes out: The chocolate has died down to a kind of cocoish background smell, almost like a chocolate scratch and sniff sticker. The other scents are nice, but I think I'd like this better if the chocolate was a citrus or vanilla scent instead.
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Oh dear god, BPAL has a line of scents based on my favorite book ever, The Last Unicorn. I barely ever wear perfume but I want them so bad. (Well, okay, I want them to be fabulous. If they're crap then BPAL should be ashamed of itself.)
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I feel that way about their Labyrinth line. It is my TOTALLY NOT SECRET shame.
Today is Candied Head: "Sugared, cakey, amber-licious and incensey."
It is supposed to smell like a cross between a head shop and a candy shop.
In bottle: BUTTERCREAM FROSTING AND INCENSE. Oh god help me I am in trouble this is like sterotypical hippe scents plus cake and I really really love it.
On wrist: The buttercream dies down a little and gets more straight up vanilla, but man. This reminds me of beach gift shops in a good way. I'm worried it might smell like I rolled in the incense section at Saturday Market, but I like it soooo much.
And then I wore it all day. The scents faded and mellowed, but stayed pretty much the same. I like this one a lot. That said, it is not subtle and is probably best saved for occasions where that's alright.
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SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY TO SMELL LIKE CAKE!
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All this perfume-talk reminds me: is anyone here familiar with Avon's Bondgirl 007 Forever (http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Avon/Bond-Girl-007-Forever-6698.html) perfume? I'd like to find something with a similar smell (since it's been discontinued), but I am a total perfume noob and I don't really understand what the various smell descriptions mean.
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All this perfume-talk reminds me: is anyone here familiar with Avon's Bondgirl 007 Forever (http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Avon/Bond-Girl-007-Forever-6698.html) perfume? I'd like to find something with a similar smell (since it's been discontinued), but I am a total perfume noob and I don't really understand what the various smell descriptions mean.
Clockderp, June 29, 2013, 04:43:42 am
The perfume you were interested in was listed under "Oriental Woodsy", so if you are looking for similar scents try looking for other products belonging to those categories. Basically, how perfumes work is that you have different olfactory groups that define the basic tones of the scent. Here is a brief summary explaining this more clearly.
Aldehydic perfumes contain chemicals belonging to the aldehyde group. Character: pure and fresh. Example: Chanel N°5 (Chanel)
Aromatic perfumes are made of various herbs, e.g. rosemary, basil or thyme. Character: outdoorsy and fresh. Example: Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca (Guerlain)
Aquatic perfumes will have a base of synthetic ingredients that evoke the sea, mountain air or fresh linen. Character: clean and modern. Example: L'Eau d'Issey" (Issey Miyake)
Citrus/fruity perfumes include bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, sweet orange and fruits such as peach, red berries, watermelon, etc. Character: fresh and light. Example: Dior Addict 2 (Dior)
Floral perfumes contain flower extracts, such as rose, lily or jasmine. Character: sweet and delicate. Example: Pure Poison (Dior)
Green perfumes, formerly known as chypres, are made of bergamot, labdanum, patchouli and oakmoss. Character: woody and floral. Example: Coco Mademoiselle (Chanel)
Gourmand perfumes contain notes like vanilla and tonka bean, chocolate or caramel. Character: sweet and edible. Example: Delices (Cartier)
Oriental perfumes have a base of amber, musks, vanilla and other exotic plants. Character: warm and sensual. Example: Dior Addict (Dior)
Woody perfumes are made of woods such as cedar, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver. Character: earthy and masculine. Example: Mediterranean (Elizabeth Arden)
You'll probably want something described as "spicy" or "warm", as those are the usual characteristics of Oriental type perfumes.
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Have any of you found a scent that's nicely apple-y? My mom wore Joop's "All About Eve", which I loved but has been discontinued. It smelled like apple and a bit like vanilla.
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SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY TO SMELL LIKE CAKE!
montrith, June 29, 2013, 04:07:04 am
YES, BUT THIS SMELLS LIKE SOMEONE PUT INCENSE STICKS ON IT INSTEAD OF CANDLES.
Ok, two mini-reviews of samples that didn't really grab me at all:
Spiced Hypatia: "cinnamon-and-nutmeg poached pear, sweet dark myrrh, and warm Egyptian musk." All the reviews on the site waxed poetic over how this was a "real" pear smell. What I got was pear-flavored jelly belly and a tiny bit of anemic spice. No myrrh, no musk, NOT ENOUGH NUTMEG. Could be my body chemistry, but I am disappoint.
Elder Spicecake: "Smoky clove, cinnamon, rum and apple puree with a strong whiff of some intrepid but unlucky adventurer's musky bay rum (applied shortly before he fell into the Elder Cake), all covered with a sticky-sweet glaze." I was so excited about this one, but when I tried it, it was a nicer, more clove-heavy (REALLY CLOVE HEAVY) version of Old Spice. :/ Not what I had hoped for.
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Thanks, Montrith! :D The list should also be super helpful in weeding out any unrelated scents that I'll probably find unpleasant, which is nice.
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Ooh, I should remember this thread next time I do my nails up fancy. Right now I'm just wearing Private Dancer (http://www.polishallthenails.com/2012/06/review-deborah-lippmann-private-dancer.html), it's shiny and purple except when it decides to go goldish!
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Ooh, I should remember this thread next time I do my nails up fancy. Right now I'm just wearing Private Dancer (http://www.polishallthenails.com/2012/06/review-deborah-lippmann-private-dancer.html), it's shiny and purple except when it decides to go goldish!
Luna, July 10, 2013, 06:29:32 pm
Love the color! I meant to take a pic of my wedding nails, but accident happened and they were ruined before I even got to the church. Oh well, next time.
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I got perfumed out. I'll try to review the last three when I'm able.
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I counted the number of scarves I own today. It's in the high thirties.
I may have a problem, ladythread.
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Ooh, I should remember this thread next time I do my nails up fancy. Right now I'm just wearing Private Dancer (http://www.polishallthenails.com/2012/06/review-deborah-lippmann-private-dancer.html), it's shiny and purple except when it decides to go goldish!
Luna, July 10, 2013, 06:29:32 pm
Love the color! I meant to take a pic of my wedding nails, but accident happened and they were ruined before I even got to the church. Oh well, next time.
montrith, July 11, 2013, 01:22:02 am
Next time you get married, I hope.
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I've got plenty of cousins still unmarried, so that'll be a more likely situation to show off my awesome manicure skills. Incidentally, it's been so hot and moist in here I'm having trouble getting my nails to dry when I do them, which I why I've been making do with just a buff and a shine.